A poor decision by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma nearly cost his team, Paris Saint-Germain, a goal in their match against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. After coming off his line to punch away a corner, Donnarumma missed the ball, allowing Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski to get to it first. However, Mendes and Asensio were able to save the day for PSG by preventing the ball from going in the net.
Lewandowski's Near Miss: A Lesson in Goalkeeping Blunders
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a costly error that almost gifted the German giants an early goal.
The Incident
With the match barely underway, Barcelona's Jordi Alba sent a teasing corner towards the Bayern goal. Donnarumma rushed off his line with the intention of punching the ball away. However, he mistimed his jump and the ball flew past him. Bayern's Robert Lewandowski was lurking in the six-yard box and looked set to tap it in for an easy goal.
But PSG's defense came to the rescue. Nuno Mendes and Marco Asensio combined to block Lewandowski's shot and clear the danger. PSG escaped with a scare, but the incident highlighted the importance of goalkeeping decision-making.
Background
Goalkeeping blunders have been a part of football history for centuries. Some of the most famous include:
Top 5 FAQs
Q1: Was Donnarumma's error a major turning point in the match? A1: No, PSG went on to win the match 2-1.
Q2: Has Donnarumma made similar errors in the past? A2: Yes, Donnarumma has been criticized for a number of high-profile blunders in his career.
Q3: Who is Robert Lewandowski? A3: A Polish striker who is considered one of the greatest goalscorers of all time.
Q4: Why did Donnarumma come off his line to punch the ball away? A4: Goalkeepers often come off their line to punch away corners if they feel they can reach the ball safely.
Q5: What lessons can be learned from this incident? A5: Goalkeepers must make quick and accurate decisions and understand their own limitations.
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